Acetylene



No. 622,447. Patented Apr. 4, I899.

a. w. COLEMAN.

AGET YLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Dec. 27, 1897.)

(No Model.)

WNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

GEORGE WV. COLEMAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ACETYLENE-GAS G EN ERATO R.

V SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,447, dated April 4, 1899.

Application filed December 27, 1897. Serial No. 663,636. (NomodeL) T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known-that I, GEORGE W. COLEMAN, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for generating acetylene gas- One of the objects of my invention is to combine with the 'gasometer a water supply and feed regulating tank having an outside source of water-supply controlled by a water seal, which is made to feed by the rise of the water in the feed-controllin g tank, which rise and fall is controlled by the action of the gasometer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety device which will only be opened under excess of pressure to escape the gas and prevent all danger of explosions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a water seal covering the generator gassupply pipe, so as to prevent the escape of gas when renewing. the charge and to prevent all back pressure, thus avoiding the use of cocks and valves.

Another object of my invention is to so combine the generator with cylinders located in the bottom of the gasometer as to prevent undue heating of the same in the operation of generating the gas.

Other features of my invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my inven tion in position for use. Fig. 2 is a central Vertical section taken through one of the generators and the water-feed-controlling tank. Fig. 3 is a top plan View with the gas-holder removed. Fig. 4 is a detailed View of the water supply and feedcontrolling tank. -Fig'. 5 is a cross-section through one of the generators and the feed-water pipe. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the water seal on one of the gas-pipes leading from one of the generating-cylinders.

A represents the gasometer-tank.

B represents the gas-holder,which is sealed by water in the tank in the, usual manner.

I have shown a plurality of gas-generators O 0. They are cylinders located in the bot tom of the gasometer and are surrounded by water.

D represents screw-caps for closing the open end of each of said cylinders E represents a removable carbid-holder, which is inserted and removed into and from the cylinders.

F represents the feedwater -controlling tank.

J represents a water displacer or plunger suspended on the holder preferably by means of arm a. This is preferably mounted on the generating-cylinders.

G represents a feed-pipe tapping the tank F. It is of U form at the bottom, so as to form a trap, and taps the branch feed-pipe H, the legs of which respectively tap the generating-cylinders. These limbs are provided with cocks 0, so as to use either one or both cylinders or to shut off both, as desired.

I represents a reservoir provided with a pipe d tapping into tank F.

K represents an open-mouth vessel, pref- .erably of bottle form, which rests upon the reservoir I in an inverted position, as shown in Fig. 4:. I

L represents a priming-cup tapping into the overflow feed-pipe G.

M represents pipes leading from the generator and projecting up through the water in the gasometer to the holder.

N represents a seal-cap covering the mouth of pipe M. It is provided with openings 6. The pressure of gas raises this cap and allows gas to escape through the orifices above the water, as shown in Fig, 6. This cap may be of such weight as not to be lifted clear err by the gas, or it may be secured by a pin f or in any suitable manner. 0 represents a safety-pipe projecting down through the top of the gas-holder. This prevents the gas from escaping so long as the mouth of said pipe is under water. In cases of extreme pressure the gas holder would raise it above the water and the excess of gas in the holder would escape, and the holder would then drop back and seal said pipe.

The tanks are partly filled with water, as shown. The cap D is removed, and the drawer is filled with carbid, placed in the cylinder, and the cap placed in position. If it is desired to use two cylinders, they are both charged 'in like manner.

The water may be supplied to the generator in either of the following ways: The mouth of the vessel K is covered by water, being slightly below the level of the water in the tanks F I normally, which prevents the water from feeding from the vessel until the level in tank F is lowered. To start the operation, water is poured into priming-cup L, which passes down feed-pipe G into the generator, or the vessel may be raised enough to cause the water to run out into the reservoir, which will run into tank'F, raising the level of the water therein and causing it to overflow into pipe G, and thus feed the generator. As the gas is generated the holder rises and with it the displacer J. This lowers the water-level in tanks F I, causing the water from the vessel to run in until its mouth is sealed by the rise of the water. As the gas is consumed or condueted off through service-pipe R the holder falls and carries down the plunger J, which raisesthe waterlevel in tank F, causing it to again overflow into pipe G. Thus the consumption of gas regulates the amount of water displaced, so that the gas is generated in proportion to its consumption. I have found by experience that with this method of feeding the water to the carbid the feed of the water is quite constant so long as the gas 'is being used and that the water-level system of controlling the supply of feed-water is very sensitive and accurate.

The carbid-pans are preferably perforated, so as to feed the water from the cylinders through the bottom of the pans, and the carbid is thoroughly saturated from all sides.

It will be observed that no cocks or valves are necessary on the pipes inside of the apparatus and none are necessarily employed in the operation of generating the gas.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a generator for acetylene gas, the combination with a gasometer, of a gas-generating compartment, a gas-pipe leading from the same into the gasometer, a feed-water-controlling tank having direct communication with the generator, a plunger moving in said tank operated by the gasometer, a water-supply reservoir communicating with said feedwater tank below the water-line, a water-c011- taining vessel open at one end which is immersed in the supply-reservoir whereby the generator is automatically supplied independent of the water in the gasometer-tank, substantially as specified.

2. In a generator for acetylene gas, the combination with a gasometer and with one or more generating-cylinders which enter the side of the gasometer at or near the bottom,

of a feed-water-controlling tank communicating with said cylinders through a pipe which opens from the supply-tank at a normal waterline, said pipe being providedwith a communicating priming-cup, a supply-reservoir having a pipe opening through its bottom and entering the feed-water tank at a point below the normal water-line of the latter, a watercontaining vessel open at one end which is submerged in the supply-reservoir, and a plunger movable in the feed-water tank and having arigid connection with the gas-holder, substantially as described.

3. In a generator for acetylene gas, the combination with a gasoineter and with generating-cylinders which enter the side wall of the same horizontally, their outer ends being provided with removable covers, of a feed-watercontrolling tank having a pipe opening therefrom at a normal water-line and communicating with the generating-cylinders a plunger movable in the feed-water-controlling tank in unison with the gas-holder, a supply-reservoir arranged partly above and partly below the normal water-line and having a pipe that communicates with the feed-water tank below said water-line, and a water-containing vessel open at one end which is immersed in said reservoir to a suitable distance below the water-line, substantially as described.

4. In agenerator for acetylene gas, the combination with a gasometer, of a generatingeylinder one or more entering said gasometer horizontally through the side wall, and lying partly outside said wall their outer ends having removable covers and the inner portions having gas-pipes which rise above the waterlevel, a water seal for each pipe consisting of a cap movable upon the open end of the pipe and extending below the water-level its normally-submerged portion having longitudinal openings which maybe raised by the pressure of the gas above the water, a feed-water-controlling tank communicating with the generating-cylinders by a pipe that opens from said tank at a normal water-line, a primingcup communicating with said pipe, a waterdisplacing plunger movable in the tank in unison with the vertical movements of the gas-holder, a water-supply reservoir having a pipe opening from its bottom and entering the feed-water-controlling tank below the water-1ine,and a water-containing vessel open at one end which is submerged in the supplyreservoir, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE \V. COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

OLIVER I. KAISER, W. R. Wool). 

